Things we as members of the public do not understand

Dear Editor:

About the Finance Committee:

a. Why was public oversight, committee monitoring of the city’s budget taken away?

b. Why can’t the committee meet at least quarterly?

c. Why isn’t the committee kept informed about budget matters:

i. The question of how to pay for a new aerial ladder fire truck?

ii. The added cost of fixing the damage to the new Third Street?

iii. The 2010-2011 audit?

iv. Recent financial reports by city staff?

d. Why has the City Manager twice prevented the Mayor and Council from considering action to put back quarterly meetings and budget monitoring?

2. About the “Call to the Public”:

a. Why did the City Manager move public comments to almost the end of the meeting?

b. Why didn’t he let it remain toward the beginning of the meeting where it has been for years, including it having recently been moved to even before the “consent agenda”?

3. Why would the City Manager, in explaining the difference between a Mayor and Council passed Ordinance and a Resolution to the Finance Committee, say that an Ordinance “means that you will do what it says, but a Resolution means that you can do what its says, {but} it is not necessary” (Finance Committee Minutes, May 9, 2011, page 7)?

Olga Robles